Machine for making



(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. W. TAFT.

MAUHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND GLEANING ROADS. No. 362,679.

Patented May 10, 1887.

Maw W n. PiTERS, Plww'likhngraphon wnshingwn, D. c

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. W. TAFT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND GLEANING ROADS.

Patented May 10, 1887.

WITNE5EEE'.

(No Model.) 4 SheetS- -Sheet 3.

G. W. TAFT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND CLEANING ROADS. No. 362,679. PatentedMay 10, 18-87.

III

W iMZ/l (No Model.) v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. W. TAFT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING, REPAIRING, AND CLEANING ROADS. No. 362,679. PatentedMay 10, 1887.

N PETERS. nnwumo n nur, wamin wn. a. c.

NlTE STATES ATENT @rricn.

GEORGE \V. TAFT, OF ABINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

MACHlNE FOR MAKiNG, REPAIRING, AND CLEANlNG ROADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,679, dated May 10,1887.

Application filed July '20, 1886. Serial No. 209,050.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. TAFT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Abington, (in the town of Pon1fret,)connty of Windham, andState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Making, Repairing, and Cleaning Roads, of which thefollowing, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specificationsufficicntly full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the artto which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of road-workingmachines in which a diagonally-disposed scraper or plowing-blade ismounted in connection with a wheeled carriage or supporting'body, andprovided with mechanism whereby the scraper can be adjusted to thediii'erent required working positions.

The objects of my present invention are to provide a simple andeffective road-machine in which the body or frame which carries thescraper or blade can be elevated and depressed, or adjusted to inclinedposition in relation to the rear axle, in a quick, easy, and efficientmanner; also, to afford a practical and convenient adjusting mechanismwhich can be readily controlled by the operator and securely retained atpositions of adjustment; also, to provide a scraper or blade that can beset at any required position of oblique adjustment or swung completelyaround, so that the rear or backward curvature of the blade can beutilized for leveling purposes when desired; also, to provide sideframes joining the body and axle, which will admit of upward, downward,and torsional adjustment of the scrapersnpporting frame withoutcramping; also, to afford means for sustaining the ends of the blade inproper relation with the supporting frame, and preventing rise and fallof the blade ends independent of its supporting-frame.

Another important object is to provide in a diagonal road-scraper orroad-working ma chine a shifting rear axle, whereby the relation of therear end of the body and the rear traveling wheels can be varied orchanged to meet different conditions of work to be per formed; also, toafford means whereby adjust ment of the shifting rear axle can beeffected and retained, as more fully hereinafter dcscribed.

(No model.)

These objects I attain by mechanism the na ture, construction, andoperation of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andexplained in the following description, the particular snbject-matterclaimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a road-nlachine,illustrating the features of my present invention. Fig. 2 is anelevation view of the same with one side removed, the better to show theconstruction of operating parts. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine.Fig. 4 is an inner side view, on larger scale, of one of the adjustableblade-supporting standards. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through thecentral part of the blade swiveling block and bodyframe. side bar andstandard at line 10 20, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a vertical section throughthejoint which connects the bod y-frame and side frame. Fig. Sis ahorizontal section through said joint and frames. Fig. 9 is a plan viewof the shifting axle and its gear. Fig. 10 is a vertical section of therear axle, showing the axle-adjusting mechanism and body-frame guide.Fig. 11 is a detail view of the locking mechanism for the axle-shiftinggear; and Fig. 12 is a vertical section through the rear axle, showingthe adjusting mechanism for controlling the body and blade.

Referring to parts, A denotes the body-frame, composed preferably ofparallel guide-pieces A and a center bar, A connected togethertransversely by means of front, rear, and cen ter transoms properlyframed, bolted, and braced together, so as to make a suitably-rigidbody, and having at the forward ends goosenecks, arch-irons, orextensions (1/, that connect with the pintle block or bearer a", whichis supported by the front axle, B,and connected there to by a suitablepintle or king-bolt in a manner to permit swivel and rocking action. Therear end of the body A terminates forward of the rear axle, 0, so thatits rear end can be raised above or depressed below the level of saidaxle without interfering therewith.

D D indicate side frames or reach-bars arranged at a short distanceoutside the guide pieces A. The forward ends of the reachbars areattached to the body at d by universally-hinging joints or connectionsthat admit of free action in all directions, while the rear Fig. 6 is atransverse section of the ICO ends of said reach-bars are joined to therear axle, O, or its casing-one by rigid connec-' tions at d and theother by a hinge-connection, as at ti -thereby permitting of the forwardends of said reach-bars taking a different level without strain on theconnecting-joints.

The hinge-j oint is preferably constructed, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8,by means of two plates or castings, one of which is provided with aspherical boss orprojection and the other with a socket for receivingsaid boss, said plates being respectively secured to the bars A and D,and the parts held together by a roundheaded bolt, b, passing throughthem, snbstantially'in the manner indicated in Fig. 8.

Upright guides E are arranged at the front of the rear axle, O, and therear end of the center bar, A", of the body-frame is embraced by saidguides, whereby the body-frame A is confined centrally in relation tothe rear ends of the reach-bars D, while permitted free upward,downward, and rocking action. The end of the bar A is preferablyfurnished with a stud, anti-friction roll, or equivalent device, e, forfitting between the guides, as indicated in Fig. 10.

F F indicate hand-wheels mounted above the rear axle, and carried bysuitable standards, G, in connection with said, axle. A shaft, H,preferably extends across said standards, on the ends of which shaft thehand wheels rotate. A sprocket or sheave wheel, F, is formed on orattached to the hub of each of'the hand-wheels, and achain or band, I,extends around said sprocket and also around a guidingsheave, J,supported beneath the axle, and connects with the rear end of theguide-bar A of the body-frame from above and below in the mannerillustrated,(see Figs.2 and 12,) the rear angles of the body-frame beingthus connected to the right and left hand wheels, respectively. I preferto employ suitable connecting devices,whereby slack or looseness of thechain I can be taken up, as at z in Fig. 12.

A platform, D extends rearward from the axle 0, upon which the operatorstands to control the scraper-adjusting mechanism. A brake orstop-lever, P, is combined with each hand-wheel to retain it at anydesired position. Said brake may work by frictional contect or be fittedto catch into notches for locking or retaining the parts, as desired. Aspring, P", forces the brake into contact with the wheel, and a pedal,1?, is provided for enabling the operator to release the stop or brakeby pressure of his foot. (See Fig. 12.)

K indicates the scraper bar or blade, preferably of a curved plate ofsteel, though other forms may in some instances be used, if desired.Said blade is centrally supported ona plate or pintle-brace, K, andpivoted to the body or plate by a bolt, m, or otherwise, in such mannerthat the blade can swing horizontally to different positions of right orleft adjustment. I prefer, as in the present instance, to make itcapable of swinging in a complete circle about its axis or pivotalcenter, so that the blade can be not only adjusted for diagonal plowingaction, but also completely reversed, so that the under curve of theback of the blade can be used for leveling purposes, when desired. Thecenter plate or pintle support, K, to which the blade is attached, ismade 'of such height that the blade is some distance below the level ofthe body-timbers A, thus allowing of the body at its rear end to beraised considerably above the reach-bars D without bringing the top ofthe blade-in contact therewith. A re-enforce bar is fixed upon the backof the blade, having a backward-projecting flange, K, extendinglongitudinally of the blade and parallel with the edges thereof.

L L denote adjustable standards for sustaining the ends of the blade.Said standards are mounted to slide upon the side timbers of thebody-frame A, which serve as guides therefor, and are provided with lipsn, which look over the angle of the bar, asindicated in Figs. 4 and 6,and are furnished with clamping devices, as cams or screws M, wherebythey can be rigidly set at any desired position.

The lower portion, of the standard is provided with a notch or recess,L, that embraces the flange K on the back of the blade, and thus whilethe standard sustains the blade against backward thrust, it also retainsit rigidly against any upward or downward movement, independent of thatimparted thereto by the raising or lowering of the side piece of thebody-frame.

The standard L is preferably formed with a shoulder, as at Z, to engageand support the edgeof the blade when it is worked in reversed positionfor leveling. (See dotted lines,Fig. 4.)

The standardsLcan be moved back and forth along the guide-bars A andclamped at any position for retaining adjustment of the scraper at anyoblique or transverse position; or said standards may be moved back, sothat the end of the blade can swing past them to reverse the position ofthe scraper. The head of the standard L is provided with a bearing-shoe,N, which rests upon the timber or guide-bar A, and the clamping deviceor screw M acts against said shoe instead of directly against the bar,thus distributing the pressure of the clamp over a broad surface andavoiding abrasion of the bar. The shoe is preferably rounded upward atthe ends, so as to slide easily on the bar. In some instances, ifdesired, the. bars A can be faced with metal plates a", to protect thesurfaces. The adjustable standard, having facilities for holding theblade to prevent upward or downward springing movement, is a feature ofmy invention.

The transoms between the bars A are made somewhat narrower than saidbars, so as to allow the overhanging lips n of the standardcastings topass them without interfering therewith; or, if preferred, the bar A maybe rabbeted or grooved out to give space for thelips n along the edgethereof. \Vhen the bars A are not rabbeted, blockings 01' pieces a ofless width than the bar A and of athickness somewhat greater than thelips a are introduced between the rear ends of the goose-necks orarchirons and the sides of the frame where they attach together, so thatsaid goose-neck will not interfere with the standard L being moved tothe forward end of the side bar, A, for sup porting the forward end ofthe blade at a position of extreme angular adjustment.

Another feature of my invention which I deem of much importance inconnection with diagonal road-machines is the construction andarrangementof the rear axle in a manner to permit lateral adjustment ofthe rear wheels in relation to the rear end of the supporting carriageon which the scraper or blade is mounted. The axle proper or bar, 0, onthe ends of which are the wheels W, is made of more than the usuallength, and is preferably a rectangular bar of steel or iron, which issupported within an outer casing or box, 0 preferably of cast-iron, towhich the frame or carriage-body is attached, the part 0 passing throughand being longitudinally movable within the part 0 to an extent of abouttwo feet, more or less. In connection therewith I provide means wherebythe shifting of the axle within the supporting-casing can be effected.In the present instance, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the axle O isprovided with a rack, 0*, which meshes with a pinion, r, on thelower endof a shaft, R, which extends up through the platform, and is provided atits upper end with a hand-wheel, It, or means whereby the shaft can beconvenientlyrotated by the operator.

The operating mechanism is provided with a catch-dog or locking device,S, for holding the parts at positions of adjustment, said lock beingarranged so that the operator can, with his foot, throw it out of gearfor releasing the parts when he desires.

The upper part of the shaft It is preferably supported by a bearing, T,connecting the upper ends of the guides E and shaft H. A chain andsprocket may be used in place of rack C and pinion r, if desired.

The advantages incident to the shifting hind axle are as follows: It ina great measure overcomes rocking action of the body of the machine asthe wheels pass over uneven ground. It also permits of the rear wheelbeing set over, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3, so as to braceagainst the bank when plowing the second round,or when moving the earthturned up by the first furrow from the shoulder of the road farther intoward the center of the road. It also allows an adjustment of thewheels, so that the windrow of earth can be deposited inside the line ofthe wheel when desired, so that the wheel can get support against thewindrow. It also allows adjustment to avoid chopping action of theblade, by reason of the wheels running over clods when the machine iscutting deep, as well as facilitating changes in the relative positionof the rear wheels and carriage-body, to meet or corre spond withdifferent positions of angular adjustment of the scraper.

The feature of a longitudinallyshifting rear axle maybe applied towheeled scrapers or road machines having a diagonal scraperblade inwhich the blade-adjusting mechanism is of other construction than thatherein shownas, for instance, such as described in Letters Patentheretofore granted mcand I so int-end to employ it and include such useas within the scope of my invention.

In the operation of my improved road-machine the scraper bar or blade Kis adjusted to the required degree of oblique inclination ortransversely to the direction of draft before starting the machine, suchadjustment being effected and the scraper fixed at adjusted position byswinging the scraper 011 its central pivot, m, and sliding the standardsor brackets L along the bars A until they rest against the respectivearms or wings of the blade, where they are rigidly fixed by turning downthe screws M or clamping the standards to the bars. The scraper is thussustained against backward strains, and is also held from upward ordownward action (except as is imparted by movement of the frame A) bythe grip of the recess L upon the flange K The operator takes hisposition upon the platform D and the driver upon the seat V, the teambeing attached to the pole and draw-bar U in the usual way, and as themachine is drawn forward the earth is rolled or plowed to one side bythe diagonal scraper or blade K in the usual manner with machines ofthis class. As the machine moves forward, the operator e011- trols thedepth of cutting and dip of the blade by raising and depressing the rearcorners of the frame, by the aidof the hand-wheels F and theirconnecting-chains I, in a very easy and convenient manner, theconstruction and arrangement being such that he has the most perfect andcomplete control of the blade by the handwheels. The frame A, beingterminated forward of the rear axle, can be raised above or depressedbelow said axle, giving a great range of vertical movement, or onecorner may be raised above the level of the axle and the other cornerdepressed below it, the forward end of the body or block a rollingfreely at its connection with the forward axle, and the frame beingretained central by the guide E, thus giving a much more extended rangeof rocking action to the body A and dip to the blade than could beattained if the body extended past said axle, while the ball-jointhinging of the reach-bars to the frame at d allows perfect freedom ofmovement while giving the requisite stability and strength ofconstruction.

For shifting the rear axle or changing the relation of the rear end ofthe carriage in re- IIO gard to the rear traveling wheels, the operatorthrows off the lock S with his foot, and then, by taking hold of thehand-wheel R, rotates the shaft R and pinion r to the right or left,moving the axle-bar O in respect to the axlecasing O as desired.

1 am aware that a road-scraper having a longitudinally-adj ustable frontaxle has heretofore been made, and I do not therefore herein claimanadjustable front axle. The adjustable front axle is an essentiallydifferent thing from the adjustable rear axle or construction hereindescribed, as none of the advantages above enumerated are'attained by orincident to the front-axle adjustment, but are wholly dependent on theadjustment at the rear axle.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a road-machine, the combination; with the carrying axles andwheels and a diagonal scraper blade, of a blade supporting frameprovided with side bars extending over and supporting the respectivearms of the scraper and having its forward end supported in connectionwith and to rock upon the forward axle, its rear end terminating at aposition forward of the rear axle and sustained therefrom by liftingdevices supported on said rear axle and connected with said frame,substantially as describedgvhereby its rear end can be raised ordepressed past said rear axle and laterally rocked to different degreesof inclination, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a road-machine, the combination of a body-frame having its forwardend supported in connection with the front axle and its rear endterminating at a posit-ion in front of the rear axle, the scraper bar orblade pivoted to said frame, reach-bars connectingthe sides of saidframe with the rear axle, and means for elevating and depressing therear corners of said frame, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the body-frame having its forward end supported inconnection with the front axle and its rear end terminating at aposition in front of the rear axle, the scraper-blade pivoted to saidframe for diagonal adj ustment,and reach-bars extending from the forwardpart of said frame to the rear axle, their forward ends connected tosaid bodyframe by loose or universal hinging-joints, and their rear endssecured to the rear axle,-one of them rigidly and the other by a hinge,sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a wheeled road-machine, the combination of .a rocking body-frameon which the scraper is suspended, supported at its forward end inconnection with the front axle and wheels, its rear end terminating at apoint in front of the rear axle, and connected with the rear axle byreach-bars, which permit torsional movement or rocking action of saidscraper-supporting frame, mechanism for independently raising anddepressing the rear corners of said frame, and a guide for maintainingits'rear end central in relation to the reach-bars and operatingmechanism, substantially as set forth.

5. In a wheeled road-1nachine, the combina tion of a body-frame to whichthe scraper bar or blade is attached, having its front end supported inconnection with the front axle and wheels, its rear end terminatingforward of the rear axle, reach-bars connecting the rear axle andforward part of said frame by a flexible or hinge attachment, and anoperators plat-- bar or blade, a rocking supporting-frame to which saidblade is pivoted, adjustable brackets or standards adapted forsustaining the scraper at positions of adjustment rigidly in relation tosaid frame, handwheels and sprockets connected with the rear angles ofsaid frame for independently raising and depressing the respective sidesthereof, a guide for retaining said frame at a central position inrelation to the hand-wheels and operating devices, and reach-barsconnecting the forward part of said frame with the rear axle upon whichthe hand wheels and operating devices are mounted, substantially assetforth.

7. In a diagonal road-machine, a scraper bar or blade pivotallyconnected with a supporting body or frame mounted on wheels and adaptedto be completely reversed to bring the back of the scraper to the front,combined with sliding standards adjustable along the 'side bars of saidframe for supporting the scraper at positions of diagonal adjustment andadapted for sustaining the sides of the scraper against verticalspringing action, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a body-frame having a scraper bar or bladesuspended therefrom in the manner described, provided with means forsustaining said scraper at positions of oblique adjustment, ofarch-irons or gooseneck extension fixed to the front end of said frameand connected to a rocker or pintleblock resting upon and pivoted to thefront axle, hand-wheels supported upon the rear axle, andconnecting-gear operated by said handwheels for elevating, depressing,or rocking said frame and scraper, for the purpose set forth.

chine, of the diagonally-adjustable scraper 9. The combination, with thebodyframe having the sides or guide-bars, as A, and the scraper bar orblade centrally pivoted to said frame, of the adjusting-standardsprovided K, supporting the center pivot, whereby the scraper and bodyare connected, and sustaining said scraper-blade at a distance below thelevel of the body-frame, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with the body-frame having guide-bars A and thescraper bar or blade provided with a backwardly-extending re-enforce orflange, and centrally pivoted in connection with said frame, of theadjusting brackets or standards L, mounted on said side bars, having arecess, as L, near their lower ends, adapted to engage with said flangeor re-enforce at the back of the blade and retain it from upward ordownward movement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination, with the body-frame A and the scraper blade, of thecenter plate or brace, K, supporting said blade at the pintle-bolt, andthe adjustable brackets or standards L, supporting the ends or wings ofsaid scraper, substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine for working roads, the combination of a carriage orbody-frame supported on front and rear traveling wheels, adiagonally-disposed scraper-blade extending across and supported beneathsaid body-frame, and an extended longitudinally-adjustable rear axle,whereby one of the rear traveling wheels can be projected laterallybeyond the workingline of said diagonal scraper blade, for the purposeset forth.

14. In amachine for working roads, the combination of a carriage or body-frame supported on front and rear travelin wheels, adiagonally-reversible scraper-blade suspended beneath said body-frame, alongitudinally-adjustable rear axle-tree, and means for effectingadjustment of said scraper and axle to the right or left workingposit-ions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a road-grading machine, the combination of the long axle-bar 0,having the wheels \V mounted upon its outer ends, and the outer bar orshell, 0", having hearings in which said axle-bar is supported andlongitudinally adjustable, and provided with seats and projections forattachment to the reachbars and carryingstandards, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

16. In a road-grading machine, the combination, with the body-frame orcarriage and a diagonally-operating scraper mounted on or suspendedtherefrom, of the rear axle consisting of the outer supportingbar, 0attached to said carriage or frame, and the longer axlebar, 0,longitudinally adjustable thereon and provided with the toothed rack O,the pinion a, shaft R, and hand-wheel It, substantially as and'for thepurpose set forth.

17. The combination of the outer axle, C the longer axle-bar, C,longitudinally adj ustable therewith and provided with the rack C, theoperating-shaft It, the pinion r, and the locking-dog S, substantiallyas and for thepurposes set forth.

18. The combination, with the body-frame having side bars, A, thescraper bar or blade suspended therefrom in the manner described, andthe sliding standards or brackets for sustaining said scraper atpositions of oblique adjustment, embracing and sliding upon the sidebars in the manner set forth, of the arch-irons or goose-neck extensionsconnected to said frame, with a rabbeted baror intermediate blocking, a,of less depth than the frame to permit the lips of said brackets to passthe foot of the arch irons, substantially as set forth.

19. The adjusting-stamlard L, having its head fitted with lips toembrace the side timher, A, of the body-frame, its lower part fur nishedwith a recess, L, and shoulder Z to engage with the blade, and its headprovided with a clamp device, combinedwith thescraperbar andscraper-supporting frame, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

20. The combination, with the side bar, A, of the body-frame and theforward end of the reaclrbar D, ofthe ball-andsocket connectingjoint, asat d, substantially as shown and de scribed.

21. The combination, with the rear axle and rocking frame supporting thescraper-blade, of the centering'guide E, thehand-wheel F, having thesprocket F attached to or formed on the hub thereof, the guide-sheave J,the chain or band I, and the take-up connection '13, substantially asshown, and for the purpose set forth.

22. The hand-wheel F, having the sprocket F supported above the rearaxle, the guidesheave J, supported beneath the rear axle, the chain I,passing around said wheels and at tached to the vertically'moving rearend of the scraper-supporting frame, and the spring brake or stop deviceP, acting to arrest the motion of said wheel, as herein shown anddescribed.

XVitness my hand this 22d day of July, A. D. 1886.

GEORGE W. TAFT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUS.

